Mounting system for towel dispenser

ABSTRACT

A towel dispenser mounting system includes a mounting component; a sensor; and a dispenser. The sensor is directly attached to the wall and the dispenser is mounted to the wall through attachment of the mounting component to the wall. The dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing towels, and the sensor is configured to detect a distance from the sensor to the roll, whereby an amount of towels to be dispensed may be calculated and/or an amount of towels already dispensed may be calculated. The sensor is located within a housing of the dispenser when the dispenser is attached to the mounting component; a back wall of the housing of the dispenser defines an opening through which the sensor is partially received. The mounting component also defines an opening through which the sensor extends. Mounting a dispenser to a wall to which a sensor is attached is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a nonprovisional patent application of, and claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) to, U.S. provisional patent application 63/390,626, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Moreover, the disclosure of the provisional patent application is contained in the Appendix, which is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

Any new and original work of authorship in this document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. Reproduction by anyone of this document as it appears in official governmental records is permitted, but otherwise all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to mounting systems and, in particular, to mounting systems for dispensers.

A dispenser for towels comprises a housing 112 within which the dispensing mechanism and a roll of material in the form of towels or toweling is contained. The roll of material may be separated by perforations to define towels, or the roll of material may be continuous with a mechanism for cutting the material into towels upon dispensing.

A cover 114 is provided that is connected to the housing 112 for rotational movement between a closed position, in which a dispensing mechanism and roll (not shown) are enclosed within the housing 112, and an open position, in which the dispensing mechanism and roll is exposed and rendered accessible for maintenance or repair, including refilling of the dispenser with a new roll. Such housing and cover for a dispenser is seen in FIG. 11 , wherein the cover 114 is disposed in the open position and the dispensing mechanism contained within the housing 112 is accessible.

The dispensing mechanism includes spindle components 116,118 for retaining the roll and rollers 117 for extending the material of the roll from the dispenser. A back wall of the housing 112 includes openings for mounting of the dispenser via the housing 112 to a wall 100 using screws or other fasteners. Screw 120 is seen extending through an opening in the housing 112 into the wall 100 in FIG. 11 .

It is believed that a need exists for determining an amount of material remaining on a roll in a dispenser that remains to be dispensed, especially for such a determination conducted remotely when a dispenser is used in a commercial setting. It is further believed that a need exists for sending an alert for maintenance when it is determined that the material on the roll will soon run out and a dispenser will be depleted. Such needs can be addressed by use of a sensor for measuring a physical characteristic or attribute of a roll of material contained within the dispenser for dispensing towels. Such physical characteristic or attribute may be a diameter of the roll, or a running length of material that has been dispensed. Unfortunately, placement of such a sensor is difficult given the arrangement of components in typical dispensers, especially when a sensor is incorporated into an installation after manufacture and purchase of a dispenser.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that one or more of these needs are addressed by one or more aspects and features in accordance with the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in, the context of a mounting system for a paper towel dispenser, the invention is not limited to use only in such context, as will become apparent from the following summaries and detailed descriptions of aspects, features, and one or more embodiments of the invention. Thus, for example, the present invention may be used to dispense any roll of a material, whether for use in residential or commercial settings, and whether the material is perforated.

Accordingly, in an aspect of the invention, a mounting system for a dispenser comprises: a mounting component; a sensor; and a dispenser. The mounting component is directly attached to a wall; the sensor is directly attached to the wall; and the dispenser is directly attached to the mounting component.

In a feature, the dispenser is a towel dispenser.

In a feature, the dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing paper towels and the sensor is configured to detect a distance from the sensor to the roll of material, whereby an amount of material to be dispensed may be calculated and/or an amount of material already dispensed may be calculated.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a “time of flight” sensor for detecting a distance extending between the sensor and the roll of material.

In a feature, the sensor is located within a housing of the dispenser when the dispenser is attached to the mounting component.

In a feature, a back wall of a housing of the dispenser defines an opening through which the sensor is received when the dispenser is mounted to the mounting component. Preferably, the sensor is only partially received within the housing of the dispenser when the dispenser is mounted to the mounting component. Specifically, part of the sensor preferably is mounted on the wall to which the mounting component is mounted, with another part of the sensor extending into and being contained within an interior space of the housing of the dispenser.

In a feature, the mounting component defines an opening through which the sensor extends when the sensor and the mounting component are attached to the wall. Preferably, the sensor extends approximately an inch from the wall and the mounting component comprises a mounting plate that extends approximately a quarter of an inch from the wall.

In a feature, the dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing paper towels, and the sensor is located proximate to the roll. Preferably, the sensor is not directly connected to the dispenser; and/or the sensor is only attached to the wall and is not attached to the mounting component or to the dispenser housing.

In a feature, the roll of material is perforated and a length of a towel is defined between adjacent perforations.

In a feature, the roll of material is not perforated and towels are torn from the roll of material during dispensing.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a power source in the form of a battery.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a power source in the form of a rechargeable battery.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter for communicating data from the sensor regarding a distance extending between the sensor and a roll of material contained within the dispenser.

In a feature, the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth communications.

In a feature, the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via Wi-Fi communications.

In a feature, the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via cellular communications.

In another aspect, a mounting system for a dispenser comprises: a mounting component; a sensor; and a dispenser. The mounting component is attached to a wall; the sensor is attached to the mounting component; and the dispenser is attached to the mounting component with the sensor extending through an opening in a housing of the mounting component.

In a feature, the dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing paper towels and the sensor is configured to detect a distance from the sensor to the roll of material, whereby an amount of material left to be dispensed may be calculated and/or an amount of material already dispensed may be calculated.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a “time of flight” sensor for detecting a distance extending between the sensor and the roll of material.

In a feature, the sensor is located within the housing of the dispenser when the dispenser is attached to the mounting component.

In a feature, a back wall of a housing of the dispenser defines an opening through which the sensor is received when the dispenser is mounted to the mounting component. Preferably, the sensor is only partially received within the housing of the dispenser when the dispenser is mounted to the mounting component.

In a feature, the dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing paper towels, and the sensor is located proximate to the roll of material.

In a feature, the sensor is only directly connected to the mounting component.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a power source in the form of a battery.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a power source in the form of a rechargeable battery.

In a feature, the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter for communicating data from the sensor regarding a distance extending between the sensor and a roll of material contained within the dispenser.

In a feature, the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth communications.

In a feature, the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via Wi-Fi communications.

In a feature, the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via cellular communications.

In another aspect, a mounting system for a dispenser to a wall having a sensor attached thereto comprises: a dispenser; and means for attaching the dispenser to the wall such that the senor is located within the dispenser proximate a roll of material contained within the dispenser.

In a feature, the sensor is attached only to the wall.

In a feature, the sensor is not attached or otherwise connected to the dispenser, but rather, is connected to the wall independently of the dispenser.

In yet another aspect, a method of mounting a dispenser to a wall comprises: attaching a sensor to the wall; and attaching a mounting component to the wall. The mounting component defines an opening through which the sensor passes when the mounting component is attached to the wall. The dispenser is mounted to the wall with the mounting component, and a housing wall of the dispenser defines an opening through which the sensor extends when the dispenser is mounted to the wall with the mounting component.

In a feature, the sensor is not directly attached to the dispenser.

In a feature, the sensor is not directly attached to the mounting component.

In an aspect, a method of mounting a dispenser to a wall comprises: attaching a sensor to the wall; attaching a mounting component to the wall, wherein the mounting component defines an opening through which the sensor passes when the mounting component is attached to the wall; and attaching the dispenser to the mounting component, wherein the dispenser defines an opening through which the sensor passes when the dispenser is attached to the mounting component.

In another aspect, a method of mounting a dispenser to a wall comprises: attaching a sensor to the wall; attaching a mounting component to the dispenser; and attaching the mounting component with dispenser attached thereto to the wall. Each of the mounting component and the dispenser defines an opening through which the sensor passes when attaching the mounting component with dispenser attached thereto to the wall.

In a feature of the foregoing aspects, the sensor is attached to the wall with an adhesive.

In a feature of the foregoing aspects, the sensor is attached to the wall with an adhesive tape.

In a feature of the foregoing aspects, the sensor is attached to the wall with a mechanical fastener.

In a feature of the foregoing aspects, the sensor is attached to the wall with a screw.

In a feature of the foregoing aspects, the mounting component is attached to the wall with a mechanical fastener.

In a feature of the foregoing aspects, the mounting component is attached to the wall with a screw.

Yet additional aspects and features of the present invention as disclosed in the photographs of the Appendix which illustrate a preferred installation of an embodiment of the invention, which Appendix and disclosure are incorporated herein by reference.

In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of the invention, it should be noted that the invention further encompasses the various logical combinations and subcombinations of such aspects and features. Thus, for example, claims in this or a divisional or continuing patent application or applications may be separately directed to any aspect, feature, or embodiment disclosed herein, or combination thereof, without requiring any other aspect, feature, or embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments of the invention now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same elements are referred to with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a mounting component in accordance with one or more aspects and features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the view of the mounting component of FIG. 1 with preferred measurements indicated in inches.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the mounting plate of FIG. 1 in combination with a sensor in accordance with one or more aspects and features of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the sensor of FIG. 3 attached to a wall.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the mounting component of FIG. 3 attached to the wall.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the sensor of FIG. 4 and the mounting component of FIG. 5 both mounted to the wall.

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of a mounting component in the form of a mounting plate of a prototype of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the mounting plate of FIG. 7 and a sensor of a prototype of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the mounting plate and sensor of FIG. 8 both attached to a wall.

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the mounting plate and sensor of FIG. 9 with a dispenser secured to the mounting plate, wherein the cover is in the open position.

FIG. 11 is a front plan view of a mounting plate and dispenser of the prior art, wherein the cover is in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the invention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. Furthermore, an embodiment of the invention may incorporate only one or a plurality of the aspects of the invention disclosed herein; only one or a plurality of the features disclosed herein; or combination thereof. As such, many embodiments are implicitly disclosed herein and fall within the scope of what is regarded as the invention.

Accordingly, while the invention is described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the invention and is made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded the invention in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and orders while still falling within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the invention be defined by the issued claim(s) rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan should prevail.

With regard solely to construction of any claim with respect to the United States, no claim element is to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the explicit phrase “means for” or “step for” is actually used in such claim element, whereupon this statutory provision is intended to and should apply in the interpretation of such claim element. With regard to any method claim including a condition precedent step, such method requires the condition precedent to be met and the step to be performed at least once but not necessarily every time during performance of the claimed method.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “comprising” is open-ended insofar as that which follows such term is not exclusive. Additionally, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “a picnic basket having an apple” is the same as “a picnic basket comprising an apple” and “a picnic basket including an apple”, each of which identically describes “a picnic basket having at least one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples”; the picnic basket further may contain one or more other items beside an apple. In contrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes “a picnic basket having only one apple”; the picnic basket further may contain one or more other items beside an apple. In contrast, “a picnic basket consisting of an apple” has only a single item contained therein, i.e., one apple; the picnic basket contains no other item.

When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus, reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “a picnic basket having cheese without crackers”, “a picnic basket having crackers without cheese”, and “a picnic basket having both cheese and crackers”; the picnic basket further may contain one or more other items beside cheese and crackers.

When used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list”. Thus, reference to “a picnic basket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket having cheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers”, as well as describes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basket further has cheese”; the picnic basket further may contain one or more other items beside cheese and crackers.

The phrase “at least one” followed by a list of items joined by “and” denotes an item of the list but does not require every item of the list. Thus, “at least one of an apple and an orange” encompasses the following mutually exclusive scenarios: there is an apple but no orange; there is an orange but no apple; and there is both an apple and an orange. In these scenarios if there is an apple, there may be more than one apple, and if there is an orange, there may be more than one orange. Moreover, the phrase “one or more” followed by a list of items joined by “and” is the equivalent of “at least one” followed by the list of items joined by “and”.

Additionally, as used herein, “towel” or “toweling” broadly refers to an absorbent sheet material that may or may not be perforated and that is dispensed from a roll. Preferably, such towel or toweling comprises paper towels.

Referring now to the drawings, one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are next described. The following description of one or more preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its implementations, or uses.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a mounting component 102 in accordance with one or more aspects and features of the present invention. As illustrated, the mounting component is in the form of a mounting plate, which is preferred. The mounting plate includes slots 104; a screw head-retainment opening 106; and a central opening 108.

FIG. 2 is the view of the mounting component 102 of FIG. 1 with preferred measurements indicated in inches. As indicated, the mounting component in the form of a mounting plate preferably is a quarter of an inch in thickness and is intended for use with a sensor that is an inch in thickness.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the mounting component 102 of FIG. 1 in combination with a sensor 110 in accordance with one or more aspects and features of the present invention. Additionally, FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the sensor 110 attached to a wall 100; FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the mounting component 102 attached to the wall 100; and FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the sensor 110 and the mounting component 102 both independently mounted to the wall 100.

The side elevational views of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate the extent to which the sensor and mounting component extend from the wall. Because a back wall of the dispenser is attached to the mounting component and not directly to the wall, as discussed below, only a portion of the sensor extends within the housing of the dispenser proximate a roll of towels. The mounting component thus serves to offset the dispenser from the wall and thereby accommodates the sensor and its proximate location to the roll of towels without contacting the towels or otherwise interfering with dispensing of the towels from the dispenser.

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of a mounting component 102 in the form of a mounting plate of a prototype of the present invention. Additionally, FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the prototype mounting plate of 102 and a sensor 110; FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the prototype mounting plate 102 and sensor 110 both independently attached to a wall 100; and FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the prototype mounting plate 102 and sensor 110 with the conventional dispenser of FIG. 11 secured to the novel mounting plate 102 with opening 108, the cover being in the open position as shown.

In addition to the foregoing, the Appendix further discloses a commercial installation of a preferred prototype of the invention. The installation is in a bathroom of a restaurant.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the invention has broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the invention other than those specifically described herein, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the invention.

Accordingly, while the invention has been described herein in detail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed to limit the invention or otherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent arrangements, the invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A dispenser mounting system, comprising: (a) a mounting component; (b) a sensor; and (c) a dispenser; (d) wherein the mounting component is directly attached to a wall; (e) wherein the sensor is directly attached to the wall; and (f) wherein the dispenser is directly attached to the mounting component.
 2. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing paper towels, and wherein the sensor is configured to detect a distance from the sensor to the roll of material whereby an amount of material to be dispensed may be calculated and/or an amount of material that has already been dispensed may be calculated.
 3. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a “time of flight” sensor for detecting a distance extending between the sensor and the roll of material.
 4. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located within a housing of the dispenser when the dispenser is attached to the mounting component.
 5. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein a back wall of a housing of the dispenser defines an opening through which the sensor is received when the dispenser is mounted to the mounting component.
 6. The dispenser mounting system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is only partially received within the housing of the dispenser when the dispenser is mounted to the mounting component.
 7. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting component defines an opening through which the sensor extends when the sensor and the mounting component are attached to the wall.
 8. The dispenser mounting system of claim 7, wherein the sensor extends approximately an inch from the wall and wherein the mounting component comprises a mounting plate that extends approximately 0.25 inches from the wall.
 9. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing paper towels, and wherein the sensor is located proximate the roll of material.
 10. The dispenser mounting system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is not directly connected to the dispenser.
 11. The dispenser mounting system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is attached only to the wall and is not attached to either the mounting component or to the dispenser.
 12. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a power source in the form of a battery.
 13. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a power source in the form of a rechargeable battery.
 14. The dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter for communicating data from the sensor regarding a distance extending between the sensor and a roll of material contained within the dispenser for dispensing paper towels.
 15. The dispenser mounting system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth communications.
 16. The dispenser mounting system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via Wi-Fi communications.
 17. The dispenser mounting system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via cellular communications.
 18. A dispenser mounting system, comprising: (a) a mounting component; (b) a sensor; and (c) a dispenser; (d) wherein the mounting component is attached to a wall; (e) wherein the sensor is attached to the mounting component; and (f) wherein the dispenser is attached to the mounting component with the sensor extending through an opening in a housing of the mounting component.
 19. The dispenser mounting system of claim 18, wherein the dispenser contains a roll of material for dispensing paper towels, and wherein the sensor is configured to detect a distance from the sensor to the roll of material, whereby an amount of material to be dispensed may be calculated and/or an amount of material already dispensed may be calculated. 20-31. (canceled)
 32. A dispenser mounting system, comprising: (a) a dispenser; and (b) means for attaching the dispenser to a wall such that a senor that is independently mounted to the wall is located within the dispenser proximate to a roll of material for dispensing paper towels contained within the dispenser when the dispenser is attached to the wall by said means. 33-45. (canceled) 